Seahawks settle on Quinn to back up Wilson

SEATTLE — The Seahawks found a franchise quarterback last year in the third round of the NFL draft when they picked Russell Wilson.

Now, they will try and groom a former first-round pick to be his backup as Seattle agreed to terms with Brady Quinn on a contract to join the team.

Quinn was one of four quarterbacks who worked out for the Seahawks earlier this week as they also hosted Matt Leinart, Tyler Thigpen and Seneca Wallace, who was previously with the team.

The Seahawks picked Quinn as the presumptive backup for Wilson, who is the entrenched starter. Matt Flynn was Seattle’s backup a year ago, but he was traded to Oakland this offseason for a pair of draft picks.

Flynn would have been one of the very best backups in the league, but he had come to Seattle not to serve that role, but to compete for the starting job. He was also scheduled to make $5.25 million this year so Seattle traded him, opting to start fresh with someone who came knowing he would be a backup to Wilson.

Quinn was chosen in the first round of the 2007 draft, No. 22 overall after a grueling wait. Projected by many as a top-10 pick, Quinn attended the draft and had to wait more than five hours until the Browns picked him.

He played three years in Cleveland before he was traded to Denver where he spent two years as a backup.

Quinn was in Kansas City last season where he appeared in 10 games, starting eight for the Chiefs.

Quinn, 28, is 6 feet 3, 235 pounds and has a strong arm. He’s a more traditional pocket passer as opposed to Wallace or Thigpen, whose ability to scramble made them intriguing candidates because of Seattle’s increased use of the read-option run game in which the quarterback can carry the ball.

While Quinn has not yet signed the contract, the team’s announcement made it clear a deal has been reached.

“Welcome to the family,” Wilson said to Quinn via Twitter. “Excited to get to work.”

Quinn will become the third quarterback the Seahawks have under contract.

The Seahawks also signed Josh Portis, an undrafted free agent who made the team in 2011 and was on the practice squad last year until he was released at the end of November.